The Nature Conservancy in Indiana - JWN - Kankakee Sands: A Birder's Paradise

Sandhill Crane - Josh Wick

Dickcissel - Carl Kurtz

Wilson's Phalarope - John Cassady

Grasshopper Sparrow - Laura Erickson

Piping Plover - John Cassady

Located in Newton County of Northwest Indiana lies a mosaic of prairie, savanna and wetland habitats called Kankakee Sands. The Nature Conservancy of Indiana has been restoring the area back to its native state with excellent results. As the land continues to transform back to its natural habitat, the number of birds and bird species at the site are increasing. Birds aren't the only ones flocking to the preserve. Birders are heading over to Kankakee Sands, making it not only an exciting restoration project but a birder's paradise as well.

Kankakee Sands: Restoring Land & Saving Species

In 1996, The Nature Conservancy of Indiana purchased 7,200 acres of agricultural land – known Kankakee Sands - that connected three ecologically important preserves: Beaver Lake Prairie State Nature Preserve, Conrad Station Savanna and Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area. Another 200 acres was purchased in 2007 between Willow Slough and the land previously purchased in order to fill up any gap between the macrosite. The reconnection of lands allowed a seamless restoration of prairie, savanna and wetlands. It also allowed the once fragmented remnants to ecologically communicate with one another, saving the vulnerable and area-sensitive species that become lost over time when their habitats are isolated, including all types of birds.

The Kankakee Sands restoration project was designed to alleviate the threat of biodiversity loss and has done so in a way that has many people excited. Wetlands, black oak barrens, prairies and meadows are once again flourishing. By using native plants, many produced by our seed barn and planted by staff and volunteers, The Nature Conservancy has been able surround a once barren area with hundreds of native plants and flowers. The dramatic changes in the land have many types of insects, amphibians and grassland birds interested. In fact, the number of species that have been found in at Kankakee Sands has increased over the years. Bird populations, for example, are flourishing due to the natural bridge created by the preserve. Without Kankakee Sands, these birds would not be able to interact, share their genetic material or to continue flourishing in this vast site.

Birding: A Main Attraction at Kankakee Sands

Kankakee Sands provides plenty of room for grassland birds to spread their wings, causing much excitement for birders in Indiana and elsewhere. Birders, or bird watchers, are avid hobbyists who will go anywhere to catch a glimpse of rare and endangered species. Kankakee Sands is just the place for those adventures, as the species that live, breed and migrate at the preserve has only increased in the recent years.

Kankakee Sands is home to several species of endangered or threatened in Indiana, including the Black Tern, Dickcissel, and the Sandhill Crane. Then there is the Northern Bobwhite, Grasshopper Sparrow and American Bittern, considered to be some of the fastest-declining bird species in North America. The Short-eared Owl, King Rail and Lesser Yellowlegs are also endangered, but use Kankakee Sands as a stopover during their migration to warmer climates. Some species - like the very rare Black Rails and Wilson's Phalaropes - simply use the preserve as a breeding ground. All these birds are excellent reasons to make it over to Kankakee Sands to go birding.

Birds of Kankakee Sands

The following list is of birds that you can find hanging around Kankakee Sands. By no means is it a complete listing, but it certainly can get any level of birder excited. A click on the link will provide you more information on the bird, including habits and what time of year you may find it there.

American Bitterns	Bobolinks	Northern Bobwhite	Sandhill Cranes	American Coots	Dickcissels	Snow Geese
Pied-billed Grebes	Marbled Godwit	Northern Harrier Hawks	Redtailed Hawks	Rough-legged Hawks	Horned Larks	Smith’s Longspurs
Eastern Meadowlark	Short-eared Owls	Wilson’s Phalaropes	American Golden Plovers	Piping Plovers	Black Rails	King Rails
Upland Sandpipers	Northern Shovelers	Soras	Field Sparrows	Grasshopper Sparrows	Henslow's Sparrow	Tundra Swans
Blue-winged Teals	Black Tern	Wild Turkeys	Sedge Wren	Greater Yellowlegs	Lesser Yellowlegs	...and many more!

For More Information

If you would like to learn more on the work done at Kankakee Sands Restoration project, visit the office's webpage or contact them at 3294 North U.S. 41 in Morocco, IN 47963 or at (219) 285-2184

The Nature Conservancy of Indiana's Kankakee Sands preserve site

The Indiana Audubon Society - includes information on chapters, bird lists and maps of popular birding sites including Kankakee Sands.

The National Audubon Society - also includes information on Kankakee Sands as an Important Bird Area.

To learn how to ID birds, visit Cornell Lab of Orinthology's All About Birds

eNature's BirdAudio - songs and calls for more than 550 North American species can be heard, including several species found at Kankakee Sands.

WhatBird - search for the sights and sounds of over 500 species.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © TNC (Field sparrow); Photo © Rich Phalin (Bobolink); Photo © Josh Wick (Sandhill crane); Photo © Carl Kurtz (Dickcissel); Photo © John Cassady (Wilson's phalarope); Photo © Laura Erickson (Grasshopper sparrow); Photo © John Cassady (Piping plover); Photo © TNC (Kankakee Sands).